John Myers
As a traditional medicinal plant, chamomile has been used in naturopathy for thousands of years. Read what effect chamomile tea has on your health.
Healing effect: chamomile tea
The properties of chamomile tea are impressive and do not need to hide behind many a pill. The antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, and calming effect of chamomile tea has been scientifically well researched and proven. The medicinal herb promotes digestion and has a soothing effect on the mucous membranes in the stomach and intestines. It also relaxes tense muscles there. If you have symptoms such as flatulence, rosemary tea is also a tip for a natural treatment. If you have a sore throat when you have a cold, chamomile tea has a mild antibacterial effect, especially if you gargle with it. The skin also benefits from this effect of chamomile when the medicinal plant is applied externally. Some studies have also shown that chamomile tea has a calming effect on the psyche.
How to prepare and use chamomile tea
If you would like to make a tea from loose dried chamomile flowers, use two to three teaspoons in 150 ml of boiling water. Let the flowers steep for 10 minutes and then strain them through a tea strainer. When using tea bags, it is best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on the packaging. As a rule, a bag with 1.5 g of tea is poured with 200 ml of boiling water and removed from the cup after 5 to 10 minutes. When using chamomile tea, be aware of possible side effects: Some people are allergic to composite plants, which also include chamomile.
Can chamomile tea be harmful?
Like herbal and fruit tea in general, chamomile tea can also be contaminated with toxic substances. According to toxicological studies, pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) can damage the liver and cause liver cancer. The experts at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) therefore advise against drinking excessively large amounts of chamomile tea over a longer period of time. However, there is no limit. If you want to be on the safe side, keep it to one cup and change the tea types regularly – whether herbal tea, fruit tea, or green tea. Pregnant women and children should be particularly careful, for whom a toxic effect of chamomile tea can have more serious consequences.
